The beginning

The Beginning

You know what? Mane Sir, has lost his tengool. Yeah the peda on his head has been removed surgically. Mangala Miss, (who composed that song 'Mangala company') has been expelled from our school after a government inquiry indicted her for hitting a boy with a duster. The poor fellow apparently collapsed after Mangala's maar.

These are just some of the gems I heard when I tried to string together the last few decades of what had happened in our school at an alumni picnic last Saturday. Although, sadly, there was no one from my batch-the Class of 1989-I did live yesterday all over again. And I kept popping the same question to all those present --- "Where is so and so?" Unfortunately, no one was much in touch with our ex-school mates.However, a boy two years my junior put me through to a classmate of mine over the phone.

Do you remember Nayan Mepani? I was in class VIII then. And whenever his name came up during the roll call, my friends who knew my Nepali roots would nudge me, saying, "Archana there's someone Nepali here." And I was like, "Wow, finally I get to meet someone from my community who is not a watchman." But within a few weeks we came to realise that he was a Gujarati. The chain and the gold bracelet were the visual proofs.

But when I spoke to him that day --I wasn't really comfortable. Perhaps, the ghosts of the pranks I played still haunted me. I had once called him a 'gainda'-a hippo. However, he seemed delighted to talk to me.
But I was not flattered to know how poor my recall value was. When I asked him if he remembered me, he said, "I do. Aren't you Dinesh Sharma's sister?"I have to confess I wasn't really happy being denied an identity of my own. Okay, I admit I always lived in the shadows of my "goodlooking" and "breakdancing" brother (Dinesh Sharma of 1987 batch).

But how can people not remember my achievements---like sticking my stinking socks up boys' noses? Perhaps, Nayan wasn't one of those lucky ones to be blessed with the smell of paradise. But despite that he is doing well in life today.

And I'm happy for him.As I'm happy for Pradnya Lokhande, Muthulakshmi (many of us remember her by that name although she is much more famous now as S Priya, as all of us who watch Zee TV would know) and Venkat, or HV (our Marathi teacher Manik Miss would call him Hyaach Vhee) who used to be seen in programmes like Antakshari, or Sa Re Ga Ma. It was so nice to see them on TV, especially since we know that they are married to each other and settled in Dubai.
Pradnya has made a name for herself as a film-maker. She was an assistant director in 'Satya' and was in New York and Switzerland for the making of films like 'Om Jai Jagdish' and 'Out of Control'. By the way, I work as a special correspondent for The Times of India in Mumbai. Look out for my name in the paper, will you?.I am told Prakash Nambiar, another VV product, had a key role in the animation department of the Bollywood blockbuster 'Hum Tum'.

Many of you might say I'm talking only about my batch. And I'm sorry for that. But at the picnic we had students even from the 1967 batch. Those from that batch were as enthusiastic as those from the recent years.

Our alumni association is doing an excellent job. They have managed to track down the first boy of the first batch---the real roll no. 1.

But there are others who I think should be tracked down as well. Remember Ayappa? He honoured so many successive batches with his esteemed company. I'm told he has put on a lot of weight. Maybe he would feel better if he sees us and realises that he has not been alone in fighting the battle of the bulge.

Why don't we all come for the get-together our alumni association is planning in mid-September? Rajesh Iyer is arranging a DJ night at the Vani Auditorium, (yeah, we have a swanky one now). Viyaylaxmi, the stout RSP we all used to dread whenever we arrived to school only to realise that the badge or ribbon is missing, is the current alumni president. But don't be afraid. She too has mellowed down over the years.

To register in the alumni contact Rajesh Iyer - 9867596920 or even to catch up on the old times. All you forgetful ones please note down September 16 in your diaries of PDAs.
Let's all walk down memory lane together. With our spouses (if you have any).
And for the guys who are still to be married here's an incentive to come---the current principal is Dolly Henry, over whom many of you used to swoon when she was the junior college chemistry teacher. She's still very beautiful.

Please forward this to as many VVians you know, here or abroad.

WARNING: IF YOU FORWARD THIS MAIL IN TEN MINUTES OF READING IT, YOU WILL BE A HAPPY PERSON. OTHERWISE KARTHA TEACHER WILL COME AND TWEAK YOUR EARS.

Archana Sharma

The Party Begins....Sept 16, 2006

If rain wanted to play spoilsport, it failed miserably. Yes, it did delay the evening. But ex-Vanians who had waded through water to reach the venue of Vani Vidyalaya Alumni party, made use of the ‘free period.’ They checked out their classrooms of yesteryears.
I went to sit in std. VI classroom and found how small the benches were. My knee touched the under-ply of the desk. Decades ago, they were so perfect for us. We were indeed tiny tots and the school was custom-made for us. I felt so special and important, retrospectively. Imagine, the school principal, teachers and peons all working for us, without we even knowing that.
Even now, we have people at our beck, but it doesn’t feel special. Perhaps, because there is no innocence anymore. We know that these people work for us and they know too that we know that. Complicated? Indeed, grown ups are.
That’s why living yesterday all over again was pleasantly so nostalgic. The evening started with the customary devotional song sung by Mahalaxmi Iyer, wife of Rajesh Iyer, 1991 batch.
After the initial introductions, the floor was thrown open to revellers. The floor was the purpose-serving quadrangle, surrounded by school corridors on all sides.

Ex-Vanians rush to the floor as music begins


You know which was the first song that blared out of the loudspeakers?

Got my first real six-string
Bought it at the five-and-dime
Played it till my fingers bled
It was the summer of 89..oops 69
……………………
Those were the best days of my life!

Sanjay Deshmukh of 1987 batch had just left the venue to attend an important dinner. Just as his car manoeuvred to get out of the gate, Bryan Adam’s guitar strums rent the air. “My immediate impulse was to reverse and join the revelry. But the dinner was called by my mom-in-law and my wife was sitting next to me. I wanted to reach home in one piece,’’ Sanjay said, tongue firmly in cheek.
Sanjay left but the floor rocked. Amid disco lights, girls dressed from strappy tops to salwar kameez and sari gyrated to the music. Boys showing off tattoos wanted ‘metallic songs’ and bobbed their heads in sync with the shrilling electronic guitar leads.
The songs were a mix of English and Hindi pops. The DJ event was organised by Sujit Gautam of 1988 batch.

Rajesh Iyer (1991) boogieing away


Once again, care was thrown to the wind and we danced oblivious to the people watching. But wasn’t it supposed to be going back to childhood?

Shilpa and I-- Nach Baliye!

So we went overboard. Vandana Ganesan (1989) broke her sandal heels, but that didn’t stop her. Quickly she dumped the hurdle nearby and joined back, barefoot. My skirt was slipping from my waist, as it was wet because of the rain! Bashfulness had no place there, though. So I danced with carefree abandon. And no it did not fall. OK?

Vandana taking support of Shilpa after her sandal ditched her


The Broken Sandals: Proof of Vandana's crazy dancing

A Tamil song was demanded and I was like, “ Oh I will catch few breaths till it’s played. I wouldn’t understand the song.” But the song was so racy --- Forget catching a breath, matching my steps with the beat seemed a task.’’



Anil Nair, all the way from Australia and a gatecrasher

After a Tamil song, could a Marathi number be left behind? The smart DJ played Aika Daaji Ba… …Shilpa Mhatre had a taken a break to drink water. But when Aatshe Khidkya hit her ears, she gulped the water and hit the floor. We missed Disha, now in London. She was the ‘hero’ of the Koli dance fraternity.

Shilpa Mhatre and I--aamhi koli lok

Suddenly people noticed that the seniors were not in the fray. Repeated chants of “We want Oldies,” pierced the air. To entice them to the floor, the Bachchan starrer—Dekha na, hai re, socha na…..was played. And it worked!!
They came, they danced, they conquered…our hearts. I didn’t approve of the word ‘Oldies’ to describe them and the way they moved their bods, just proved me right. In fact, 1967’s C R Ramakrishnan’s wife Chitra put youngsters to shame the way she burnt the floor. They were senior and experienced and much better than us in every way. It was fantastic to see ex-Vanians with their children, who also passed out from Vani. (For instance, CR’s daughter Deepa 2000 batch) On the same platform.

The Seniors: They were graceful and gregarious. Chitra in blue saree is in her own world

The three Amigoes --Shilpa, Vandana and yours truly


We were thirsty and hungry. And the food spread only added to our glee. There was a sweet drink to start with. And bhel and paani-puri, further spicing up the event. For non-‘Madrasis’ like me it was heartening to see Dahi-Bhaat (curd rice) topped with mustard and red chillies. I remember how the smell of it filled the air whenever Vaidehi opened her tiffin box in school. A red chatni on top made it look like a cherry on a pineapple cake!
But have to admit, it doesn’t smell good when surpressed inside a dabba for three hours. But on September 16, not only did it smell good, it tasted good too! The regular spread was also there.

Sucheta and Shilpa relishing the food

The music was on….but it was past 10.30 pm—half hour after the deadline to switch off the loudspeakers, as per rules. So a friendly Pandu came and requested us to call it a day or rather night. We obeyed him promptly as there’s a hospital near our school now.

Sucheta and Shilpa with daughter Sara

But the excitement was anything but over. We exchanged email ids and phone numbers. Got introduced to classmate’s spouses and children.

The Gang

We left with a feeling of gratefulness for our alma mater for making us what we are today. Whoever said ‘We don’t need no education’? And no, that song was not on the charts that evening.

--Archana Sharma---







Well..the most relevant for me...Batch of 1989...in their ninth standard. To start with the very endearing Kumudam Miss.
Well I am at the corner on the extreme left of the top row of girls. Vandana is on the extreme right same row. Disha seated sweetly, Shilpa, next to the gorgeous Jyoti, supressing a smile. Nayan in his best. And HV...unchanged since his junior kg pic.

The rangoli may take all the attention but I don't mind as it's drawn by me. Though I am not half as good as others here, I am still proud of the little art I manage to do.

Class II of 1989 and more

Aah! This's the pic where Priya has taken centrestage. But we can see A Priya, D Laxmi, small Subu, et al. Which class is it? Any guesses? Will update it according to the SMS voting (email bhi chalega) I will get. Our show just got real ;)

Usual suspects here too and still cute.I am really curious to know who is the tot next to A Priya? She must have purposely put the gajra in the front for effect. Again which class is this?


Class II of the batch of 1989..Pradnya, Janaki, Vidya..Indu...so lovely...miss not being there..



Blast from the past -- The above picture is perhaps class 10 A, and immed above is class VIII C. Really amazed at Vandana's consistency in being camera morose.

Can remember Subu and narendra. One is Raja and the other is who i used to call Dhoptuchand. Please enlighten us with more details.

Same picnic! I remember the second guy from right? Venkat or some such South Indian name. Please have a go at it.






Down Under --Taste the Thunder,
Sameer Chhatre from the class of 1989 is settled in Sydney (not in the background).
The bloke is lucky, his wife Sunila looks gorgeous!

Our blog is getting out of 88-89 cocoon. This is Dinesh Sharma, his wife Renuka, son Aryan at Texas. Dinesh from the 1987 batch is a businessman as well as a software consultant in Dallas Fortworth.

1989 batch's Class I pic...

Srividya, Reni Mathias, Vaidehi, on the second row!! Chitra on the front?

CLass D, Class 10 of 1989. Ramani next to HV, Shilpa bowed bashfully, Vandana pretending to be serious, Pradnya & Shambhavi (armed locked). Sitalaxmi too on the top row..who is the plump guy behind her? Can't control his giggle.



Once a tall & skinny guy,Rajesh Krishnan, 1989 batch, Div B, has turned into an even taller strapper. Working for JRay McDermott, he is settled in Dubai with wife Ramya and daughter Rithi.

Pradnya Shenvi nee Pai to engineer husband Girish in Sharjah. Now in Mumbai.


Pradnya darling dolls -- Shreya and Ganesh

She has many names D Lakshmi, P T Usha now Jaya. Seen here with hubby Satish and sons Shasta (5) and Tanay (2). An athletic champion in school, she now runs behind her boys

We all so sari to leave the school ;) On the farewell day in 1989.


One way ticket to adulthood. This bunch of students had come to collect the hall ticket for SSC exams.

old and new pics of 1989 and a reunion party

Junior KG...Sing this... HV is flanked by Indu and another beauty...Mangala Company....







HV and Priya (the singing du0--known for their show in Sa re ga ma and antakshari) in Dubai with their kids abhishek(6) and aarti(4).












Indu Iyer settled in Massachusetts, USA with her son, Dhruv







Erstwhile a Michael Jackson look-alike, Anil Nair of B-1989 is an analyst with Nissan Motors in Melbourne,Australia. He's married to Reena (St Mary’s product).Seen here with daughter Sanjana and Jyothika was on her way, perhaps. He's seen seated at the plump teacher's feet in Junior KG group pic.







Nayan Mepani, his Kelkar college sweetheart Purnima and their daughter Navea






Srividya, settled in Vashi, with her hubby and daughters Krithika and Sanjana











Gowriprabha Vaidyanathan, 88-89 batch.In 'A' division till 9th Std and then in 'C' for the last year. Works as a Principal Consultant in a global IT consulting organization, currently working out of Massachusetts.






This quiet cat has become quite a sher. Subramaniam Lives Down Under a little away from Melbourne, as an IT administrator. Wife Sunita is an Insurance babe!













Prefers to be called Soooooz, Sujata is from 92 batch. She is in California but thankfully for us, is coming to Mumbai for good.





Ladies and Gents, Sujit Pingulkar (1989), the dude. This globetrotter's lived in Venezuela,Peru,Singapore & Taiwan before settling in the US, 7 yrs ago.Seen here with daughter Sanika











This is Kiran, Sujil's sweetheart from Thane College. She is a medical technlogist and both live in Knoxville.









Amin Bulsari(1989)settled in Dubai works for a UK computer company. And he has just learnt that his wedding guest list has grown by two dozens. Watch this space for his wedding pics!


Mahesh Srinivasan with wife Krithika, lives in Mulund East and works with Capgemini Consulting in Vikhroli. He passed out of B.Com from Kelkar with HV, Nayan, etc. In the KG pic, he's seen sitting next to Anil Nair.

Vinayak, C- div, software guy based in UK with wife Deepa. He is seen in the school pic giggling behind and kept me at wit's end at the photo session as he kept threatening to fall!

Shilpa Mhatre with her girl Sara, who is a regular at Vani dos.


Shilpa with her hubby Prashant



I have decided to post a very naturally written account of our November 12, 2006 reunion of 1988-89 batch in Nirmal Lifestyle in Mulund. The place is so different; it looks like a high street in England.



Dear Friends,

I am all in a bliss.....can't really come out of it.....what a feeling that was.......we had a reunion.....a great one......one to cherish......and one which gave a feeling of going back to school days......one which left a feeling of being in that vani vidyalaya uniform.....and each one of us who met today....there was so much warmth in that......and each one's eyes read...."where are those days?"...."kya din the"..........."we have grown so much.......but there still that child.....and so many warm as well as notorious memories...which have a capability to light you up...the moment you think about it.....WHAT A REUNION IT WAS!!!

Am attaching some pictures clicked today.....when some of us met up.....Pradnya and Myself turned up at 4pm.....the scheduled time.....Subu(He-man)...followed....and then came Nayan......(keep in mind..he had a flight to Europe tonight)......then came Visalakshi...out of hiding...(as pleasant and quiet as she always was.....).....Shilpa and Suchita came together......saying..a big..."Hiiiiiiiiiiiii"....followed by Archana.....who came across all the way from Nerul.....and thus we met......after YEARS.....to share some good golden moments and to light up those cherished memories....To end it all....Amrish Shah came with his wife....

The cafe coffee day shop was full of people...but we had BINDAS blocked couple of tables with 8 chairs...there was a loud music going on.....people all around were chatting....and yet....lot of them had occasions to stare at our tables...due to the HIGH VOLUME of talk as well as LAUGHTER......Nayan and Myself especially.....

Archana was at her Humorous best.....(added with Expressions)....while Pradnya came up with her quota of incidents shared alongwith Shilpa and Archana....

Subu gave in some of his old ones.....fights with Kiran Nambiar....(fainting)...while Visalakshi was a quite listener..as always...

Well.....you had to be there to experience it.....but friends....i think this is the best thing happening to us.....please make the most of it.....I will take todays memories and go back to the UAE on friday....in anticipation of a REUNION in March..(when I plan to come back with my wife Priya and kids)....but for those who are around.....in India...please keep meeting up and keep the torch of CHILDHOOD lighted!!!

I will now look forward to first of all reading Archana's special write up on today's reunion.....and ofcourse mails from all those who were a part of today. Visalakshi(Priya), Suchita, Shilpa, Nayan, Subu, Amrish,Pradnya.....and also from the ones who were supposed to attend.....Achita(Janaki), Viren Kenia.....

I missed my wife Priya on the occasion, but as luck could have had it....Ramani who travelled to Dubai today morning is going over to my place tonight for dinner alongwith Amin Balsari....so, there's a reunion happening there too!!! Hope Ramani is carrying a Camera.

Best Wishes Always and Long Live the Reunion!!!

Cheers
HV

I have to point out one thing… how thrilled Nayan was to talk to Kiran. He went out of CCD and talked to her. We had to write out " STOP BLUSHING" on the tissue paper and paste on the glass wall for him to see. But that was not enough...he went on...and we thought yeh aaj Europe ki flight legaa ki nahin. Gawd! How much we were laughing, everyone was watching us. The entire treat for so many people was from HV. Thanks. He just refused to take contributions. HV, dont say "Bas Kya" now…Archana

clockwise from left -- Tall Subu, HV, Pradnya, Visalakshi, Sucheta, Shilpa and Archana

Nayan replaces Visalakshi here

Now joined in by Amrish Shah and wife Anita..humble and very pleasant souls.

A more giggly picture